Álvaro Martínez
Encyclopedia
Álvaro Martínez Aguinaga (born 9 February 1979 in Estella-Lizarra, Navarre
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays as a defender
.
, but only appeared for its feeder club and reserves, CD Baskonia
and Bilbao Athletic
.
From 2001 onwards, he represented Alicante CF
, CD Recreación de La Rioja, CD River Ega
, CF Vilanova, UE Figueres
, Sestao River Club
, SD Eibar
(his first second division
experience, playing 17 matches in 2008–09's relegation) and Barakaldo CF
.
, is also a footballer. A midfielder
, he played with great success for Athletic Bilbao
, being signed still in his youth from hometown's CA Osasuna
, and won the 2010 FIFA World Cup
with Spain
.
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Football career
Having spent the vast majority of his career in the lower leagues, Martínez started with Athletic BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, but only appeared for its feeder club and reserves, CD Baskonia
CD Baskonia
Club Deportivo Baskonia is a Spanish football club based in Basauri, Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de López Cortázar, with a 8,500-seat capacity.-History:Founded in 1913 as CD Basconia,...
and Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
.
From 2001 onwards, he represented Alicante CF
Alicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
, CD Recreación de La Rioja, CD River Ega
CD River Ega
Club Deportivo River Ega is a Spanish football team based in Andosilla in the autonomous community of Navarre. Founded in 1926, it plays in Regional Preferente. Its stadium is Estadio Andola with a capacity of 1,500 seaters.- Season to season:...
, CF Vilanova, UE Figueres
UE Figueres
Unió Esportiva Figueres is a Spanish football team based in Figueres, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1919 and refounded in 2007, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Vilatenim, with a seating capacity of 9,472.-History:Figueres was first...
, Sestao River Club
Sestao River Club
Sestao River Club is a Spanish football team based in Sestao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1996, it plays in Segunda División B – Group 2, holding home games at Estadio Las Llanas, with a capacity of 8,000 seats.-History:...
, SD Eibar
SD Eibar
Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B....
(his first second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
experience, playing 17 matches in 2008–09's relegation) and Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Barakaldo, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Founded in 1917, it plays in Tercera División - Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre, with a capacity of 7,960 seats.-Club names:*Baracaldo Football-Club —...
.
Personal
Martínez's younger brother, JavierJavi Martínez
Javier "Javi" Martínez Aguinaga is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, as a central midfielder.Martínez also played for the Spanish national team and was a member of the squad that won the 2010 World Cup.-Club career:...
, is also a footballer. A midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, he played with great success for Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, being signed still in his youth from hometown's CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
, and won the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
with Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
.